The Janove 9 Question Interviews: Leadership Coach Frank Wagner

By Jathan Janove (Guest Contributor)–

Along with New York Times bestselling author Marshall Goldsmith and Chris Coffey, Frank Wagner created Stakeholder Centered Coaching, one of the most successful and widespread executive coaching programs in the world. There are now thousands of certified Stakeholder Centered coaches in dozens of countries, and tens of thousands have been coached with this method.

Frank’s both a friend and a mentor.

Given the choice of anyone, whom would you want as a dinner guest and what would you talk about?

I’d like to have dinner with the person who designed the Zen Garden of Kyoto in the 15th-century Ryoan-ji, the Temple of the Peaceful Dragon. When I visited this garden, I spent hours and hours studying the space the size of a tennis court, and long after many tours came and went. I was fascinated by how the minimalist use of rocks, sand and moss could have such magnificent complexity and symbolism.

I doubt that the identity of this anonymous designer will ever become known yet I’d sure love to ask him or her a ton of questions.

What’s something in your life for which you feel grateful?

Every day I say a prayer of thanks for my health. I turn 72 next month. Without my health, I can’t serve others.

If the current you could provide real-time advice to a younger you, what would it be?

I would have started earlier on a program to live a regret-free life. Every night before going to bed, I ask myself, “Is there anything I did or failed to do today that I regret?” Asking this daily question helps me live a regret-free life.

What would you change about the way you were raised?

I had a wonderful childhood in Southern California with great parents and a twin brother with whom I was especially close. However, if there is one thing I would change, my parents would have bought my brother and I surfboards for our birthday, Christmas or some other occasion. Instead, we had to borrow surfboards from friends for many years until we were old enough to buy our own and continue surfing.

Every holiday, birthday or other special occasion, my brother and I would keep our fingers crossed that this was going to be it. And every time, we were disappointed.

My parents didn’t have a lot of money. However, I think the real reason we never got surfboards was the fact that my mom couldn’t swim and had a fear of deep water.

What’s a treasured memory?

Last fall, I attended my 50th reunion at Santa Clara University with six of the seven starters from the 1969 water polo team. The university supplied us with swim trunks. We got in the pool and for five minutes “competed” against much younger alumni in an alumni game after the current varsity had played.

Probably the best experience was not while we were in the water. It was the numerous conversations I had with several delightful, curious and inquisitive young men who were so appreciative that we would get in the water and compete with them at our advanced age.

What’s an embarrassing moment in your life you’re willing to share?

When I was about seven years old, I attended a large Catholic school. We had 60 kids in our class divided about equally between boys and girls. During recess and lunch, the boys played sports. Two of the most popular or best athletes would be picked as captains and would take turns choosing sides. I’ll never forget my brother and I being passed over again and again. I ended up the last person chosen, with my brother second-to-last. I felt as bad for my brother as I did for myself. The rest of the school day, I couldn’t look at another person.

I became determined that this would never happen again and developed into a good athlete. Thereafter, however, whenever I was asked to be captain, I always declined. I didn’t want to be the person picking someone else last.

Your house, containing everything you own, catches fire. After saving your loved ones and pets, you have time to safely make one final dash. What would you save?

From my home office, I would grab my dog tags from my military service. I’d also grab the medal my brother and I each received in eighth grade in our Catholic school at our graduation ceremony. We were recognized for being the best in our class for what was written on the medal we received. Engraved on the medal was, “Responsibility.”

Is there something that you’ve dreamed of doing for a long time that you haven’t yet done?

I would like to see the Northern Lights in all their splendor and magnificence. I would travel anywhere in the world for this opportunity.

What do you find spiritual in life?

I was born, raised and educated as a Catholic. However, I consider myself half-Catholic and half-Buddhist. There’s nothing more spiritual for me than working in and serving as steward of the garden we have at our home. Nature is precious to me.

Jathan Janove is Principal of Janove Organization Solutions, http://jathanjanove.com. Through consulting, executive coaching and training, he works with employers to create fully engaged workplace cultures. He also practiced law in Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.